by Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports

by Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports

Just two days after Heat team president Pat Riley fired a profane missive at Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge in defense of LeBron James, his team rested James, fellow star Dwyane Wade and point guard Mario Chalmers against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday in what was widely seen as a measure of gamesmanship and revenge. The Spurs, to review, sent Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili home to rest on Nov. 29 rather than take part in the possible NBA Finals preview in Miami and were fined $250,000 by the NBA for doing so.

The Heat, by all accounts, won the game within the game. And then, lo and behold, they went out and won the actual game, too.

Heat forward Chris Bosh hit a game-winning three-pointer from atop the key with 1.1 seconds left, and Parker missed a floater from the right side at the buzzer in Miami's 88-86 win. The most unique of circumstances, yet again, prevented the possible NBA Finals preview that so many anticipated, but it was a statement game of different sorts nonetheless as the Spurs lost on their home floor for just the fifth time in 37 games.

Bosh made the most of his rare offensive freedom, finishing with 23 points on 9 of 15 shooting. The Heat, who are now three games ahead of the Spurs for the best record in the league, celebrated as if it was a playoff win on the AT&T Center floor afterward. And while James and Wade watched the game from inside the visitors locker room, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said their respective injuries didn't prevent them from joining in on the frivolity.

"Yeah, they were tackling everybody on their way to the locker room," he said when asked about their reaction. "They didn't get hurt."

The Heat denied that their decision to not play their trio had anything to do with the Nov. 29 affair, of course, citing James' right hamstring strain and right ankle sprains for Wade and Chalmers when the news was announced approximately two hours before tipoff. Because specific injuries were cited, the NBA is not expected to levy any discipline against the Heat. When asked if this was a response to the Spurs players resting in the previous matchup, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, "I could see where you guys would draw those conclusions, but no."

Still, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich couldn't help but feed this same fire that had burned him just a few months before.

"What kind of (expletive) is that?" he told reporters before tipoff. "Are you kidding? What a bunch of rummies. Who would think of something like that. That's below the belt. There's no place for that stuff."

When asked for his non-comedic response, he said, "I have too many things to think about. It is what it is. The motivation why? You figure it out. It will be great articles. You guys can write all kinds of great stuff."

Buford's wording was apropos, as Miami team president Pat Riley issued a scathing statement to Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge on Friday that he should "manage his own team." Ainge had criticized James on a radio interview for criticizing the officiating in a loss at Chicago on Wednesday.